FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — There was a sense of urgency to the Atlanta Falcons’ approach to the NFL draft, creating the impression fifth-year general manager Terry Fontenot and second-year head coach Raheem Morris believe the team is ready to win in 2025.
That all-in strategy, with a dramatic double-down emphasis on edge rushers in the first round, came at the expense of Atlanta’s 2026 draft.
Fontenot made two trades on the first two days of the draft, each including a 2026 pick. After selecting Georgia’s Jalon Walker at No. 15 overall on Thursday as the first commitment to improving the team’s woeful pass rush, the Falcons traded back into the first round later that night to select another edge rusher, Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr., at No. 26.
The Falcons sent the Los Angeles Rams their 2026 first-round pick as well as second-round and seventh-round selections in this year’s draft. The Falcons also obtained a third-round selection from the Rams in this year’s draft.
On Friday night, Fontenot moved up five spots in the third round to pick Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts, sending the Philadelphia Eagles a third-round pick this year and a fifth-round selection next year.
The Falcons finished next to last in sacks in 2024, the third time in the past four years they ranked in the bottom two in the league. They aggressively worked on that weakness by using the two first-round picks on Walker and Pearce.
Did the Falcons overpay for Pearce, especially after drafting Walker and signing veteran Leonard Floyd in free agency ahead of the draft?
“We see that as being worth it because of who the players are,” Fontenot said. “It’s about who the player is, and we’re not being irresponsible about it. We’re making decisions based on conviction and love for players and knowing the impact they’re going to make on this team.”
The defense-first approach continued Saturday when the Falcons added Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. in the fourth round. Bowman, a safety, is projected as a nickel back in Atlanta’s defense.
Wisconsin offensive tackle Jack Nelson, a seventh-round selection, was Atlanta’s final pick and only player taken on that side of the ball. Fontenot said Nelson will be trained at more than one spot on the line.
New defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was beaming when he spoke with reporters after Bowman became the fourth straight defensive player drafted by the Falcons. Ulbrich, who was 3-9 as the interim head coach of the New York Jets last season, said he is confident the 2026 first-round pick sent to the Rams will be a late selection. Ulbrich believes the bolstered defense has Atlanta ready to win.
The optimism is notable for a franchise that went 8-9 last season for its seventh consecutive losing record. The Falcons haven’t made the playoffs since winning a wild-card game and losing in the divisional round after the 2017 season.
“We have high hopes,” Ulbrich said. “I have high hopes for this team, and because of that I’m anticipating that first-round pick next year is late. … You think is there going to be a James Pearce-type player available? I think not.”
Ulbrich said Walker’s “super power” is his ability to play linebacker and edge rusher. Ulbrich sees that versatility as a third-down strength to be utilized in the future, but he wants Walker to focus on being an edge rusher to start his pro career. Pearce will be a full-time edge rusher.
Walker won the 2024 Butkus Award as the nation’s best college linebacker, but his versatility has generated comparisons to Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons, a mentor and friend who also identified Walker’s skills.
“He is a great asset for me, being the person he is … and just giving me advice during just the whole process, the whole combine pre-draft process, and of course just being that role model and that older brother role for me as well just to make sure I’m all right,” Walker said.
Watts will compete with DeMarcco Hellams, Jordan Fuller and others to join Jessie Bates III as Atlanta’s starting safeties.
“It’s going to be a very competitive safety room,” Morris said.
Bates has been a big-play leader in his two seasons in Atlanta. He had a combined 10 interceptions the past two seasons, with four of those picks coming last season, when he also forced four fumbles.
It’s no surprise the Falcons hope Watts, who had 13 interceptions in his last two seasons at Notre Dame, follows Bates’ lead. Watts loves the comparison.
“I’m really glad to be part of the Falcons, because Jessie Bates is a player I model my game after,” Watts said. “So I’m really excited to be teammates with him.”
Fontenot said rookie free agency will be especially important this year because the team had only five draft picks and this year’s draft was perceived to be deeper than usual.
“So you really want to be aggressive,” said Fontenot, who referred to the process as the unofficial “eighth round” of the draft.
ATLANTA FALCONS 2025 DRAFT PICKS
Selections listed by round, with overall pick number in parentheses, position, height, weight and college.
1: (15) Jalon Walker, linebacker, 6-1, 243, Georgia.
1: (26) James Pearce Jr., defensive end, 6-5, 245, Tennessee.
3: (96) Xavier Watts, safety, 6-0, 245, Notre Dame.
4: (118) Billy Bowman Jr., safety, 5-10, 192, Oklahoma.
7: (218) Jack Nelson, offensive tackle, 6-7, 314, Wisconsin.